Connector for a modular rack

ABSTRACT

A connector for a modular rack includes a base and a plurality of connecting members. The base includes a connecting pipe which has a circular inner passage, and the inner passage has a top open end and a lower open end larger in diameter than the top open end. The base includes a connecting platform, on which is formed a plurality of upward-extending stop pieces alternatively disposed with respect to the connecting portions, and between each of the stop pieces and the connecting pipe is defined an inserting slot. The connecting members each include an engaging portion and two lateral wing portions. The engaging portion is inserted in the connecting portions, the rear surface is abutted against the connecting pipe, and the two wing portions are inserted in the inserting slots, and between front and rear surfaces of the connecting members is formed an inserting hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular rack, and more particularly to a connector for a modular rack.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A rack for placement of articles or a bookcase is normally a unitary structure which cannot be disassembled freely or moved easily as desired by the user. With living standards rising, the ease of assembly also becomes one of people's concerns, in addition to aesthetic appearance. Therefore, a DIY modular rack, which can be disassembled into pipes, boards, connectors, came into existence, which allows the user to build a modular rack by him or her self.

However, most of the DIY modular racks are provided with a plurality of different and specifically-shaped connectors, and each type of connectors mostly only fits a specific part of the rack, so the user has to pair various types of connectors with different parts of the rack, which is very inconvenient and troublesome.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector for a modular rack, wherein the modular rack can be assembled into different shapes with only a single type of connectors.

To achieve the above objective, a connector for a modular rack in accordance with the present invention comprises a base and a plurality of connecting members. The base is provided at a center thereof with a connecting pipe which is formed with an inner passage, the inner passage is circular in cross section and has a top open end and a lower open end which is larger in diameter than the top open end, so that the inner passage is a conical structure which tapers from the lower open end to the top open end. The base is provided with a connecting platform which extends outward from a bottom of the base, on the connecting platform being formed a plurality of stop pieces which extend upward from the connecting platform and are alternatively disposed with respect to the connecting portions, between each of the stop pieces and the connecting pipe being defined an inserting slot. The plurality of connecting members each includes an arc-shaped front surface, an opposite rear surface and two lateral surfaces. Each of the connecting members is provided with an engaging portion extending downward from a lower end of the connecting member, and a wing portion formed at each of the lateral surfaces. Each of the connecting members is fixed to the base by inserting the engaging portion in the connecting portions, the rear surface is abutted against the connecting pipe, and the two wing portions are inserted in the inserting slots, and between the front and rear surfaces of each of the connecting members is formed an inserting hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a connector for a modular rack in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the connector for the modular rack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the connector for the modular rack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows that the connector for the modular rack in accordance with the present invention is fixed to the pipes;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a part of a rack formed by the connectors and pipes of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the rack formed by the connectors and pipes of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows another rack formed by the connectors and pipes of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a connector for a modular rack in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to connect pillars 71 and a plurality of pipes 72 to form a rack, and comprises: a base 20 and a plurality of connecting members 30.

The base 20 is provided at the center thereof with a connecting pipe 21 which is formed with an inner passage 22. The inner passage 22 is circular in cross section, and has a top open end 221 and a lower open end 222 which is larger in diameter than the top open end 221, so that the inner passage 22 is a conical structure which tapers from the lower open end 222 to the top open end 221. The base 20 is provided with a connecting platform 23 which extends outward from the bottom of the base 20. On the connecting platform 23 is formed a plurality of connecting portions 24 which are in the form of holes. A plurality of stop pieces 25 extend upward from the connecting platform 23, and are alternatively disposed with respect to the connecting portions 24. Between each of the stop pieces 25 and the connecting pipe 21 is defined an inserting slot 26, each of the stop pieces 25 is defined a first groove 27, and the connecting pipe 21 is provided with a corresponding number of second grooves 28 which are paired with the first grooves 27. Each pair of the first and second grooves 27, 28 is located in the middle of a corresponding one of the inserting slots 26, and between each pair of the first and second grooves 27, 28 is formed a reinforced rib 29 and inserted a U-shaped guardrail 77. Each of the pillars 71 is inserted in the inner passage 22 and restricted therein by a restricting ring 73. The way of fixing the pillars 71 to the restricting rings 73 is conventional, and therefore would not be explained in detail. The base 20 can form a connecting structure perpendicular to the ground by connecting with the pillars 71.

The connecting members 30 each include an arc-shaped front surface 31, an opposite rear surface 32 and two lateral surfaces. Each of the connecting members 30 is provided with an engaging portion 33 extending downward from a lower end of the connecting member 30. The engaging portion 33 is a protrusion formed at the lower end of the connecting members 30 and can be an elastic clipping structure. At each of the lateral surfaces of the respective connecting members 30 is formed a wing portion 34. Each of the connecting members 30 is fixed to the base 20 by inserting the engaging portion 33 in the connecting portions 24, and has the rear surface 32 abutted against the connecting pipe 21, and the two wing portions 34 inserted in the inserting slots 26. Between the front and rear surfaces 31, 32 of each of the connecting members 30 is formed an inserting hole 35. On the front surface 31 is formed a rib 38 which is located below the inserting hole 35, and on the rear surface 32 is formed a receiving portion 36 which is located in the inserting hole 35 for insertion of a bolt 74 through which the pipes 72 are fixed to the connecting members 30. In this embodiment, in each of the pipes 72 is embedded a pipe plug 75. The bolt 74 is a socket head cap screw, and each of the connecting members 30 is provided with a plurality of self-tapping screw holes 37 which are located below the inserting hole 35 for fixing slide rails, drawers, basket and etc.

What mentioned above are the structures of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, for a better understanding of a connector for a modular rack of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the following descriptive matter and FIGS. 1-5. When in use, each of the pipes 72 which can be a square or circular pipe has its two ends fixed to the connecting members 30, at each of the two open ends of the pipes 72 is embedded the pipe plug 75. The bolt 74 is inserted through the receiving portion 36, the inserting hole 35 of each of the connecting members 30, and has one end received in the receiving portion 36, and another end extending out of the inserting hole 35 and screwed with a corresponding one of the pipe plugs 75 embedded in the pipes 72. After two ends of each of the pipes 72 are fixed to two connecting members 30, then the engaging portions 33 of the two connecting members 30 are inserted in one of the connecting portions 24 of two different bases 20, and the wing portions 34 are inserted in two neighboring inserting slots 26. By such arrangements, the connecting members 30 are fixed to the pipes 72 to form a connecting structure which is parallel with the ground, and then connected to the pillars 71 to form a modular rack.

It is to be noted that, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIGS. 1-3, on the formed modular rack of the present invention can further be provided a board 76 to form a flat table for placement of articles thereon. The board 76 can be placed on the pipes 72 or the connecting members 30 as desired. In addition, there is still enough room left in each of the inserting slots 26 for insertion of the guardrail 77, after the inserting slots 26 of the base 20 of the present invention are engaged with the wing portions 34 of the connecting members 30, and the first and second grooves 27, 28 further add room for the guardrail 77, making it easier for insertion of the guardrail 77. The U-shaped guardrail 77 can have two ends inserted in two neighboring bases 20, as shown in FIG. 6, to prevent articles from falling off of the board 76. Besides, the self-tapping screw holes 37 can be used to fixing rails, drawer, iron basket, and etc to the bottom of the base 20.

Referring then to FIG. 7, on each base 20 is provided a plurality of connecting members 30, and each of the connecting members 30 can be fixed to a pipe 72, so that the modular rack of the present invention can be easily and freely expanded in the horizontal direction as desired by the user, which makes the assembly operation fun and creative.

The rib 38 formed on the front surface 31 and below the inserting hole 35 can be used to push against the pipes 72 to stop the pipes 72 from rotating, which ensures aesthetic appearance of the whole modular rack.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector for a modular rack comprising: a base provided at a center thereof with a connecting pipe which is formed with an inner passage, the inner passage being circular in cross section and having a top open end and a lower open end which is larger in diameter than the top open end, so that the inner passage is a conical structure which tapers from the lower open end to the top open end, the base being provided with a connecting platform which extends outward from a bottom of the base, on the connecting platform being formed a plurality of stop pieces which extend upward from the connecting platform and are alternatively disposed with respect to the connecting portions, between each of the stop pieces and the connecting pipe being defined an inserting slot; and a plurality of connecting members each including an arc-shaped front surface, an opposite rear surface and two lateral surfaces, each of the connecting members being provided with an engaging portion extending downward from a lower end of the connecting member, and a wing portion formed at each of the lateral surfaces, each of the connecting members being fixed to the base by inserting the engaging portion in the connecting portions, the rear surface being abutted against the connecting pipe, and the two wing portions being inserted in the inserting slots, and between the front and rear surfaces of each of the connecting members being formed an inserting hole.
 2. The connector for the modular rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the stop pieces is defined a first groove, the connecting pipe is provided with a corresponding number of second grooves which are paired with the first grooves, and each pair of the first and second grooves is located in a middle of a corresponding one of the inserting slots.
 3. The connector for the modular rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the connecting members is provided with a plurality of self-tapping screw holes which are located below the inserting hole.
 4. The connector for the modular rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein a receiving portion is formed on the rear surface and located in the inserting hole.
 5. The connector for the modular rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rib is formed on the front surface and located below the inserting hole.
 6. The connector for the modular rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein a reinforced rib is formed between each pair of the first and second grooves. 